President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Türkiye's economic performance report for 2025 at a meeting held in Istanbul. Despite global crises... $396.5 billion In the year when the export record in the history of the Republic was broken; defense industry With a 40-fold increase, it reached $9.8 billion. Syria It was noteworthy that trade with [the other party] increased by $1.3 billion with the steps taken to normalize trade. Erdoğan also stated that, 33 provinces The export mark exceeded $1 billion, heralding the spread of production throughout the country.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the one-year performance of Turkish industry and exporters at the “2025 Foreign Trade Figures” meeting held in Istanbul. Despite the contraction in global trade, Türkiye, $273.4 billion worth of goods And $123 billion in service exports with a total $396.5 billion It reached a historic volume.
The most striking data highlighted at the meeting was the performance of Türkiye's production hubs. Now, not just a few major centers, but all across Anatolia have risen to the "billion-dollar" league in foreign exchange-earning activities.
33 Provinces Broke the "1 Billion Dollar" Barrier: Here Are the Top 5
According to the data shared by Erdoğan, while the number of provinces exporting across Türkiye is increasing, the number of provinces with annual exports exceeding 1 billion dollars is also rising. 33‘The top 5 cities where the wheels of industry turn fastest and which shoulder Türkiye's exports are as follows:
- Istanbul: $57.8 Billion (Retained its top spot)
- Kocaeli: $35.1 Billion (Industrial capital continues its pursuit)
- Izmir: $23.6 Billion
- Bursa: $20 Billion (On the list thanks to the power of the automotive industry)
- Tekirdağ: $13.2 Billion
This table shows how much production has strengthened in strategic industrial corridors, particularly in the Marmara Basin.
A Massive 40-Fold Growth in the Defense Industry and NATO Standards.
The shining star of exports was undoubtedly the defense and aerospace sector. President Erdoğan stated that the sector will reach a certain level in 2025. 9 billion 870 million dollars It announced that exports have reached an all-time high compared to previous years. A 40-fold growth The Turkish defense industry, which has made significant progress, has solidified its position in the Western market not only with UAVs but also with manned platforms. Erdoğan also mentioned the HÜRJET agreement signed with Spain, emphasizing that the inclusion of a Turkish jet in the inventory of a NATO country is the clearest proof of Türkiye's "pioneering and game-changing" role in this field.
İthalatı Karşılama Oranında Kritik Yükseliş: %74,8
Ekonomik bağımsızlığın en önemli göstergelerinden biri olan “İhracatın İthalatı Karşılama Oranı”nda çok ciddi bir iyileşme kaydedildi. Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, 2009 yılında %50 civarında olan bu oranın, 2025 sonu itibarıyla %74,8 He emphasized that it had risen to that level.
This data proves that despite Türkiye's imports of raw materials and intermediate goods, its capacity to finance its purchases with the proceeds from its sales has increased, thus demonstrating a shift towards a "production-oriented" structure in terms of closing the current account deficit.
İhracatın “Nitelik” Değişimi: %43,5 Teknoloji Payı
Not only "how much" we sell is changing, but also "what we sell". In 2025, Türkiye's exports... orta-yüksek ve yüksek teknolojili ürünlerin payı %43,5‘It reached 'e'.
- High technology: 9,9 milyar dolar (%12,7 artış).
- Medium-High Technology: 102,1 milyar dolar (%10,6 artış).
Erdoğan attributes this success to domestic and national brands. Togg‘'s entry into the European market and defense industry He stated that their products account for a large share (with annual exports reaching $9.87 billion). Türkiye is now competing in the global market with high-value-per-kilogram, engineered products.
All-time record in December.
The year 2025 ended with a record not only on an annual basis, but also on a monthly basis. In December, exports increased by a net $3 billion compared to the same month of the previous year. $26.4 billion This figure was recorded as the highest export amount ever achieved in a single month in Türkiye's history.
"Normalization" in Trade with Syria Brings a Boom: $1.3 Billion Increase
The diversification strategy in export routes has directly reflected on trade with our border neighbors. President Erdoğan stated that with the normalization and improvement of the security environment... Exports to Syria increased by $1.3 billion. Erdoğan stated that this increase was evident. Expressing his satisfaction with this increase, Erdoğan said; “As the security situation improves, our trade with Syria will increase even further. A united and whole Syria is the key to lasting stability in our region.” He stated that this data proves Türkiye is pursuing a "win-win" strategy that both ensures border security and stimulates regional development.
Target for 2026: $410 Billion
At the end of the meeting, President Erdoğan outlined the future vision, stating that the support given to exporters will increase in 2026. 45 billion TL‘He announced the good news that it has been increased. Türkiye's total export target for 2026 is... $410 billion (including $128 billion for services).
2025 verileri, Türk ekonomisinin “üretim kaslarının” ne kadar güçlendiğini gösteriyor. Özellikle 33 ilin 1 milyar dolar barajını aşması ve teknoloji ihracatının toplam pastadaki payının %40’ları geçmesi, büyümenin tabana yayıldığının ve nitelik kazandığının en somut delilidir.
Keywords: 2025 export figures, defense industry exports, Turkey-Syria trade, top exporting provinces, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, HÜRJET Spain agreement, 2026 export target, foreign trade data.
